ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1164 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1164 ************************************ From: "S Friedemann" 4 Sep 1998 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked us for help completing a name for a 14th century Scottish Gaelic male. You wanted to be <{name} Dhu Mac Coinnigh>, with your given name starting with or . You later spoke with one of the Academy members about the names and . Here is the information we have found. There are a number of Gaelic masculine names that start with or . Here's a list of a few, with their pronunciations. In these names, \U\ is the sound of the in , \OO\ is the sound of in , \kh\ is the rasping "ch" sound in Scottish or German , and \gh\ is the voiced version of \kh\. The / represents an accent over the previous letter. [1,2] Cairbre \KAR-breh\ Calbhach \KAHL-vakh\ Cathal \KAH-hahl\ Cathbharr \KAH-far\ Cathoir \KAH-heer\ Cearbhall \KYAR-vahl\ Ce/adach \KAY-dahkh\ Cian \KEE-an\ Cinne/idigh \KIN-ay-dee\ Coilea/n \KIL-yahn\ Colla \KUL-a\ Conall \KUN-ahl\ Conchobhar \KUN-kho-war\ Conmhac \KUN-vahk\ Conn \KUN\ Connla \KUN-la\ Corc \KORK\ Cormac \KOR-mahk\ Cu/ Chonnacht \KOO KHUN-nahkht\ Cu/ Mhaighe \KOO VEE\ Cu/ Uladh \KOO U-la\ Mac Con \mahk KUN\ Maol Mho/rdha \MAIL VOR-a\ Maol Mhuadh \MAIL VOO-a\ Maol Mhuire \MAIL VEER-eh\ Maolruanaidh \MAIL ROO-a-nee\ Maoilsheachlainn \MAIL-ahkh-lin\ Maonach \MAIN-ahkh\ Maghnus \MAHN-ahs\ Maine \MAHN-ye\ Mathghamhain \MAH-ghow-an\ Muircheartach \MEER-yar-tahkh\ Muirgheas \MEER-ees\ Murchadh \MUR-kha\ We found three examples of , pronounced \KEL-lahkh\, in a Scottish Gaelic document from 1467. The nominative spellings used were and , while the genitive (possessive) spelling used was . The three men with the name refered to in this document were a 15th century man and his grandfather and great-great-grandfather. [5] We also found evidence of patronymics (bynames based on the father's name) derived from this name, circa 1150 and in 1298. [3] Based on this evidence, we believe that was used by Scottish Gaels at least from the 12th century through the 15th century. While was not on the list of names beginning with above, we have evidence that it was used in Scotland. It would be a fine name for your father. It is also spelled and . [3,4] For the fourteenth century, either the spelling or would be expected. is pronounced \KEN-yahkh\. [2,4] The \kh\ is pronounced like the hard, rasping "ch" sound in Scottish or German . The form meaning "son of Cainneach" would be --the change in spelling from to is the equivalent of the change from "John" to "John's." appears to be a misspelling of , a byname (nickname) meaning "black." It is pronounced \doov\. A name such as "Ceallach the black, son of Cainneach" would be reasonable for the 14th century. [4] It is pronounced [1] We hope that this letter has been useful to you, and that you will not hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Talan Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Barak Raz, and Afraig inghean Chainnigh mhic Arailt. For the Academy, --Aryanhwy merch Catmael September 4, 1998 --------------------------------------- References: [1] Patrick Woulfe, _Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames_ (Kansas City: Irish Genealogical Foundation) [2] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990. [3] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.n. Mackelly, MacKenzie [4] Jackson, Kenneth, _The Gaelic Notes in the Book of Deer_ (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1972). [5] Skene, William F., "Genealogies of the Highland Clans, Extracted from Ancient Gaelic MSS.: 1. Gaelic MS. Written circa A.D. 1450, with a Translation,", pp 50-62, and "Genealogies of the Highland Clans, Extracted from Ancient Gaelic MSS.: 2. Gaelic MS. Written circa A.D. 1450, continued," pp. 357-60, _Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis consisting of Original Papers and Documents Relating to the History of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland_, ed. The Iona Club (Edinburgh: Thomas G. Stevenson, 1847).